Fear seems to be a significant issue in our world today. Health, relationships, the economy, our future, and even sometimes our present bring fearful thoughts to our hearts and minds. Actually, sometimes it seems we are afraid of becoming afraid. God has encouraged my own heart many times with His Word in Proverbs 3:25a-26a, "Be not afraid of sudden fear,,,for the Lord shall by thy confidence..."
We know that fear was initially seen in the garden of Eden, following the rebellion of man that fractured mankind's intimate fellowship with God. When God questioned his whereabouts, Adam's response was that his fear motivated the visible actions of running away and attempting to hide from Him. Even so it is with us...the motivational element of fear must be addressed. It's presence or absence will, in fact, determine our actions.
Fear is unseen to the human eye, but gives visible illustration of its presence in our attitudes, behavior and communication. Fear would clearly appear to be the "root" of unbiblical "fruit" in our lives. Sometimes we are afraid of not pleasing people, or losing face in others opinions of us, or not being able to have our own way. But, the question is - what is the deeper heart problem that precipitates the fear?
The answer is seen in the account eluded to from Genesis 3. When we resist the divine design of God for our lives, the unbiblical response of fear is experienced, with its subsequent actions which are both visible and definable. What is the solution? God gives it to us in Psalm 56:3 and in 2 Timothy 1:7. His power and authority are made available to us as we receive the gift of personal salvation. Thereafter, the sacrificial loving of God in obedient trust and the sacrificial loving of others in service is the clear responsibility of each believer. These essential elements produce the stability and sound mind that accurately represent the indwelling Christ to a lost and dying world. Cumulatively, they displace the unbiblical fear that Satan would desire to see dominate the lives of God's blood-bought children with the confident trust in His Sovereignty.
(C) 2013 N.A. Collins - Copy permission limited to one personal file copy
We know that fear was initially seen in the garden of Eden, following the rebellion of man that fractured mankind's intimate fellowship with God. When God questioned his whereabouts, Adam's response was that his fear motivated the visible actions of running away and attempting to hide from Him. Even so it is with us...the motivational element of fear must be addressed. It's presence or absence will, in fact, determine our actions.
Fear is unseen to the human eye, but gives visible illustration of its presence in our attitudes, behavior and communication. Fear would clearly appear to be the "root" of unbiblical "fruit" in our lives. Sometimes we are afraid of not pleasing people, or losing face in others opinions of us, or not being able to have our own way. But, the question is - what is the deeper heart problem that precipitates the fear?
The answer is seen in the account eluded to from Genesis 3. When we resist the divine design of God for our lives, the unbiblical response of fear is experienced, with its subsequent actions which are both visible and definable. What is the solution? God gives it to us in Psalm 56:3 and in 2 Timothy 1:7. His power and authority are made available to us as we receive the gift of personal salvation. Thereafter, the sacrificial loving of God in obedient trust and the sacrificial loving of others in service is the clear responsibility of each believer. These essential elements produce the stability and sound mind that accurately represent the indwelling Christ to a lost and dying world. Cumulatively, they displace the unbiblical fear that Satan would desire to see dominate the lives of God's blood-bought children with the confident trust in His Sovereignty.
(C) 2013 N.A. Collins - Copy permission limited to one personal file copy
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